A great night celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Norman A. Smith Memorial Scholarship, run by the Waverley RSL Sub-Branch.
Under the sea with our very own Flounder! 🐠
“No one uses the bike path.” 🚲
I shouldn’t have favourites, but I do.
📞 No endless menus. Just a real person ready to help.
Three generations, one very special photo. ❤️
🎉 What a night celebrating culture, community and connection at the 2026 Australian Multicultural Food and Cultural Dance Gala!
🕳️ MONASH POTHOLE CHALLENGE, THE RESULTS ARE IN!
💬 TALK TO THE MAYOR ABOUT WHERE YOUR MONEY IS SPENT
🚗 PARKING IN CLAYTON - HAVE YOUR SAY!
👩💼 A fantastic morning at the Monash Women’s Business Network, this time focused on Thriving Under Pressure.
🍕 Stopped by @lazio_pizzeria in Oakleigh East last night for some takeaway.
🛒 Mini Woolies has arrived at Glenallen School!
🕳️ THE MONASH POTHOLE CHALLENGE
📚 Glen Waverley Library Express is open!
💙 Mental health support needs to reach every part of our community.
☀️🌿 A sunny 16-degree Sunday sounds like a pretty good excuse to finally tackle the garden you’ve let run wild over winter!
🌭 A trip to Bunnings is always better when the sausage sizzle is going!
🏉💙 This is what community sport is all about.
💜 Today is Wear It Purple Day. 🏳️🌈
Congratulations to Saina Mirpuri from @huntingtower School, the 2026 scholarship recipient, and to all five finalists.
For 40 years, this program has backed talented young people with strong academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to their community.
A wonderful legacy, and a terrific investment in the next generation.
Loved watching April in The Little Mermaid last night. There’s something special about seeing your child on stage, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Congratulations to all the Year 5/6 students on a brilliant show. You should be so proud of what you’ve achieved together.
A big thank you to everyone who helped bring the production to life and gave our kids this chance to shine. 👏🎭
Our counters record an average of more than 100 uses a day. And it’s great to see children among those using it to get to school safely.
At 8:40am today: three people on bikes in one photo. One parked car in the other. Yet it’s the bike path that keeps getting questioned.
To make room for the cycling path, we removed parking spaces. Meanwhile, the multideck car park has heaps of empty spots. Surely we can make room for children to ride safely when there’s still so much parking available?
Of course, a photo doesn’t tell us how busy either is across the day. That’s exactly the point. An empty car park doesn’t mean it should never have been built, and a quiet moment on a bike path doesn’t make it a waste of money.
It’s about giving people options. When people feel safe enough to choose a bike instead of a car, that means fewer cars on the road, helping ease congestion for those who need to drive.
With our population set to double, we need to make walking, cycling and public transport practical options for more people. We can’t simply double the size of all our roads.
Safer trips for children, more choice for families and less traffic for drivers. That’s a win-win.
The Waverley Woodworkers are one of my absolute favourite community groups in Monash.
More than 100 men and women belong to the group, but what makes them so special isn’t simply what they make. It is what they give back.
Throughout the year, members make and donate toys to playgroups, kindergartens, schools and women’s refuges. They also make toys for children with special needs.
It was wonderful to join members for afternoon tea at their Artisan Hub in Central Reserve this week and recognise the contribution they make. Council is fortunate to have such a strong partnership with this terrific group.
Community groups are the beating heart of life in Monash, and the Waverley Woodworkers are a wonderful example of why. 🪵💙
When you call Council, you should be able to speak to a person, not work your way through endless “press 1, press 2, press 3” options.
At Monash, you get a real person answering your call within 50 seconds almost 90% of the time.
Our 2025/26 results show:
☎️ 89.57% of calls answered within 50 seconds
✅ 74.33% of queries resolved at the first point of contact
📉 Just 1.23% of callers abandoned their call
Good customer service means answering quickly, listening and helping residents get their query sorted. These are terrific results from our customer service team.
My dad, my son and I. A reminder that no matter how old you get or how many children of your own you have, you’re still someone’s kid.
Being a dad is one of the greatest joys of my life. Watching your children grow into their own people, sharing their excitement and being there when they need you is hard to beat.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad, and to all the dads, grandads and father figures in our community.
Thinking too of those missing their dad, missing a child, or finding today difficult. ❤️
Proud to join the National Liaison Council of Australian Chinese Inc. for an evening of incredible food, music and cultural performances, hosted by President An Son Hong JP.
Monash is one of Victoria’s most diverse municipalities, and nights like this remind me why that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Our Chinese community plays such a vital role in shaping the cultural, social and economic life of our city, and it’s always a privilege to celebrate that.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring tonight together, the organisers, volunteers, performers and community leaders. You showcased the very best of multicultural Australia. 🙏
#Monash #Multicultural #Community
More than 160,000 views, 500 comments and plenty of people putting my claim to the test!
After going through all the reports, just 12 potholes were identified on Monash Council-managed roads, and all 12 were fixed within four days.
The roads were Kangaroo Road, Dunlop Road, Jacqueline Road, Garnett Road, Buckland Street, Snedden Drive, Plymouth Road, Cratloe Road, Gallagher Road, Toirram Road, Gladeswood Drive and Duerdin Street.
Monash manages 2,467 roads and streets across the municipality, so a huge thank you to our road maintenance teams for the proactive work they do every day inspecting and maintaining that network, and for getting onto the issues that were identified so quickly.
As expected, most of the roads people reported were actually managed by VicRoads/DTP, generally our major arterial roads.
If you spot an issue on one of those roads, you can report it directly to VicRoads. Or just report any road issue to Monash through our website or the Snap Send Solve app. If it turns out to be a VicRoads-managed road, we’ll report it directly to them for you.
And the original commitment stands. Find a pothole on a Monash Council-managed road and we’ll have it fixed within 10 days. 💪🛣️
I’ll be at our Notting Hill budget consultation on Sunday 20 September from 9am–11am, and I’d love to hear directly from you about what you think Council should prioritise in next year’s budget.
📍 Bunnings Warehouse, Notting Hill
📅 Sunday 20 September
⏰ 9am–11am
Whether there’s a local project you think needs attention, a Council service you want to talk about, or something you think we should be doing differently, come down and have a chat.
We’re currently developing Monash Council’s 2027–28 Budget, which determines how we invest in local roads, footpaths, parks, libraries, sporting and community facilities, and the many services Council provides across Monash.
There’s also a second opportunity to speak with Council in person:
📍 Hamilton Place, Mount Waverley, near Son of Tucci Cafe
📅 Thursday 24 September
⏰ 10am–12pm
I won’t be at the Hamilton Place session this time because it falls on my birthday, and I’ll be interstate. 🎂
Feedback is open until Sunday 11 October, so if you can’t make either session, you can still have your say online.
The consultation link is in my bio.
Parking in central Clayton is under pressure, particularly around the shops, station and activity centre, and we’re proposing a number of changes to make it easier for people to find a space when they need one.
The proposed changes look at parking availability and turnover, accessibility, safety and making restrictions more consistent across the area.
Importantly, this isn’t simply about adding restrictions. In some locations we’re proposing to relax restrictions where parking is underused, while in higher-demand areas the aim is to free up spaces for residents, shoppers and visitors.
If you live, work, shop or run a business in Clayton, have a look at the proposed changes and tell us whether we’ve got the balance right, or whether there are parking issues we’ve missed.
📅 Consultation closes 11.59pm Sunday 13 September.
👇 Link to have your say in my bio.
As a dad of three daughters, events like this always mean a little more to me. I want my daughters growing up seeing women leading businesses, making decisions and creating opportunities, and knowing there is absolutely no reason they can’t do the same.
We’ve come a long way, but a quick look at the boards and senior leadership teams across corporate Australia shows there is still plenty of work to do.
Running a business, leading a team or building a career can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also bring pressures that others don’t always see. Looking after wellbeing isn’t separate from success, it’s part of it.
A big thank you to everyone who came along, shared their experiences and supported one another. Events like this are about more than networking, they’re about building connections, confidence and opportunity. 💙
The pizza was great, but the carbonara was something else. Absolutely delicious.
And the chips… wow wee. 🤤
Definitely one I’ll be going back to!
It was fantastic to join students, staff and the Woolworths team for the official opening of Glenallen School’s very own Mini Woolies.
Glenallen is a wonderful specialist school supporting students of all abilities, and this new space gives students the opportunity to build practical, real-world skills in a safe and familiar environment.
The Mini Woolies looks and feels like a real supermarket, giving students hands-on experience with numeracy, literacy, communication and customer service, while helping build confidence and independence.
What started as an idea in 2018 has now grown to more than 110 locations across Australia and New Zealand, supporting more than 8,250 young people with disabilities.
A huge thank you to @woolworths_au for investing in this program and bringing Mini Woolies to Glenallen School, and to everyone who has helped make it happen.
A great addition to the school and, judging by the enthusiasm at the opening, I think it’s going to get plenty of use! 👏🛒
Find me a genuine pothole on a Monash Council-managed road, send me the location and a photo, and I’ll guarantee we’ll have it fixed within 10 days.
There’s been plenty of discussion about potholes across Victoria lately, including new announcements from the State Government about road maintenance.
When I was on ABC Radio with Raf Epstein recently, I made a fairly bold claim: I don’t know of a single pothole on a road managed by Monash Council.
So I’m putting that claim to the test.
A quick disclaimer before everyone sends me photos of Warrigal Road, Princes Highway or other major arterial roads 😂 Generally speaking, those major roads are managed by the State Government, not Council.
To make it easy, there’s a link to Monash Council’s road register in my bio. It lists every road in Monash and the first column tells you whether it’s a State Arterial or a Council-managed Public Road.
Surely someone can prove me wrong.
The Monash Pothole Challenge is on. 🕳️🔎
As well as visiting our new temporary Children’s Library, I also dropped into the Glen Waverley Library Express at 173 Coleman Parade.
While we build the new $110 million Glen Waverley Library and Civic Centre, we’ve made sure library services remain available right in the heart of Glen Waverley.
The Library Express is home to our adult collection, with books available to browse and borrow, Wi-Fi, computers, printing and scanning, as well as easy collection and returns.
And I have to say, the yellow and blue colour scheme is awesome. Always a favourite colour combination of mine, although probably a little too ambitious to try at home! 💛💙
It’s conveniently located on Coleman Parade, just near Glen Waverley Station, so if you’re in the area, drop in and have a look.
Together with the Children’s Library at Black Flat Community Hall, these two temporary locations will keep Glen Waverley reading while we get on with building an incredible new library for our community. 📖
It was great to join the Chinese Family Support Network for the launch of their Chinese Community Education Program.
For people from multicultural backgrounds, language, cultural differences and stigma can all make it harder to talk about mental health or know where to turn for support.
That’s why trusted community organisations are so important. They help create safe spaces for conversations, connect people with support and make sure nobody feels they have to deal with challenges alone.
A big thank you to the Chinese Family Support Network and all of the volunteers who give their time to support young people, women, seniors and families across our community. 💙
And there’s some good news if you end up with more green waste than you know what to do with.
During this year’s Council Budget discussions, I raised and championed reducing the cost of dropping off green waste at the Monash Recycling and Waste Centre. That cheaper price is now in place, just in time for spring.
Monash residents and ratepayers can now drop off green waste for $50 per cubic metre, down from $80 (a cubic metre is roughly one and a half 6x4 trailer).
So if today’s the day for pruning, mowing, weeding or reclaiming the backyard from winter, getting rid of what’s left over is now considerably cheaper.
📍 Monash Recycling and Waste Centre, 380 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill.
Just bring proof that you’re a Monash resident or ratepayer to access the discounted price. 🌱
Popped in today and was pleasantly surprised to see the Lions Club of Wheelers Hill on the BBQ. It would have been rude not to support them, so a couple of snags later, everyone was a winner!
Well done to everyone who gave up their Saturday to help out. 🦁👏
I had the pleasure of joining the Mazenod Panthers All Abilities Football Club for their presentation night, and it was genuinely one of those nights that leaves you smiling.
Every player received an award, and watching the excitement as each name was called was just brilliant. The smiles, the high-fives, the cheering for teammates and the sheer pride on their faces said everything about what this club means to its players.
The Panthers give people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to play footy, be part of a team, build friendships and confidence, and experience all the things that make community sport so special.
But what struck me most was how much the players celebrated each other. There was such genuine happiness when a teammate was recognised. It was infectious.
Congratulations to every Panthers player on another season, and to the coaches, volunteers, families and supporters who create such a welcoming and inclusive club.
A very special night with a very special group of people. 💙🏆
This year’s theme, Colours of Courage, is a reminder that courage comes in many forms, including simply having the confidence to be yourself.
Every young person deserves to grow up feeling safe, supported and accepted for who they are.
Wear It Purple Day is about standing alongside LGBTIQA+ young people and making it clear that they are welcome, valued and belong in our schools, workplaces and communities.
A little bit of purple today sends a pretty important message. 💜🏳️🌈
#WearItPurple #ColoursOfCourage
Gallery
